Chapter Three: Peppa Pig's Big Splash

Kate shuts the car door with a satisfying thump and puts the key in the ignition. Finally. What she needs after a week like that is a long lie down in a darkened room. And a few vats of wine. Whoever told her that working in a private school would be a doddle had obviously never met 9F.

She's about to start the car when there's a knock on the window and she finds herself looking at the one person in the world she'd been trying to avoid.

After the bittersweet emotion of seeing Caroline at her daughter's party she'd settled on the only sensible plan – to stay as far away from her as possible. And things had been going pretty well, at least at work. She'd been professional and polite but had kept their interaction to a bare minimum. Caroline had never been the sort of person to stand around chatting, so it hadn't been difficult to naturally cut off any conversation that felt a bit too friendly and get back to work. In fact, she was probably getting extra brownie points for her laser-eyed focus on her job.

Her home life had proved much more challenging. A month without any kind of contact with Caroline had left her daughter upset and confused, asking after her regularly, demanding to know when she'd next see her. She'd fobbed her off at first, said that Caroline was busy or that she'd see her soon enough, but Daisy wasn't daft. She knew that her mummy worked in the same place as the object of her affection and she'd started wailing every time Kate dropped her off at nursery rather than taking her to Sulgrave Heath.

But she couldn't see an alternative. Any more time spent with Caroline and she was going to make a fool of herself, and that might well leave her without a job, or at least without a job she'd ever want to go to again. The only other option was to somehow persuade Caroline to look after Daisy on her own sometimes, but she'd been able to think of precisely zero excuses as to why that might be necessary. Once, yes, emergency babysitting for a colleague, but Daisy would never be satisfied with just once. So she was stuck.

She rolls the window down, the butterflies invading her stomach.

"Caroline, hi. I was just heading home."

"Yes, of course, I won't keep you. I was just wondering if I could interest you in Peppa Pig's Big Splash?"

"I...interest me in...pardon?"

"It's a theatre production, it's a live version of Peppa Pig, it's on at Harrogate Theatre. Daisy was telling me all about the whole Peppa Pig family at her party, she really loves them, and to be honest Kate...well, to be absolutely honest I may have already bought us the tickets. They hardly had any left when I looked and I wanted to make sure and...it's a fortnight tomorrow, a matinee for children, well obviously it's for children, it's Peppa Pig, there's not a deeply nuanced adult version in the evenings. What do you think, are you free?"

She quickly runs through excuses in her head – she's busy. Daisy's busy. Daisy's very, very busy. For God's sake, she thinks. This awful, wonderful woman.

"That sounds fantastic, Caroline, thank you. It's so thoughtful."

"You think she'll like it?"

She'd like it if you sat with her on the floor and stared at the carpet.

"I'm sure she will. She'll be thrilled. Let me know how much I owe you."

"Oh no no no, my treat."

"I couldn't-"

"No arguments whatsoever, it's my idea and my treat. I'll look forward to it, we can arrange the driving and what have you another time. Bye for now, see you Monday."

"Bye."

She watches as she struts across the car park, high heels clicking, the tight business suit hugging every curve of her body. Her own body responds predictably to the sight. There goes avoidance.

This, clearly, is going to be the best day of Daisy's whole life. Kate's been watching her daughter more than she's been watching the show in front of her, but she can't help it – she's never seen her quite this happy before. The excitement of it all meant that it had been a serious struggle to get her to stay in her seat at first; they'd had to resort to Caroline's headteacher voice to stop her bouncing off the walls, but now the show's started she's enchanted.

Caroline. Casual in her jeans and soft jumper, hair a little untidier than usual, shoes unusually flat. Beaming at them both when they picked her up, listening to Daisy explain the Pig family tree during the entire journey. Taking Daisy's hand and leading her into the theatre, buying her a programme and sweets and behaving like there's nowhere else in the world she'd rather be than here, watching grown adults play the fool in giant pig costumes.

Music starts playing for a sing-a-long and she hears Daisy start to sing. And then...no, surely she's not...

She is. She actually is. Dr Caroline Elliot, Oxbridge graduate and PhD, is singing the Bing Bong Song.

Kate stares at her in amazement. Caroline notices her looking and gives her a slightly sheepish smile but doesn't stop singing, peering over Daisy's shoulder periodically to read the lyrics on the programme. Kate raises an eyebrow at her but Caroline just grins and sings louder, giving Kate a pointed look over her reading glasses as if to highlight her disappointing lack of participation.

For a few precious moment she indulges in the fantasy. This is her family, Caroline, Daisy and herself, out for the afternoon enjoying themselves. They'll go back to their house, give Daisy her tea, put her to bed and then Caroline will hold her, kiss her, tell her how much she loves her. Show her how much she loves her. This is everything she's ever wanted in the world.

A large singing carrot interrupts her revelry. Best not to think about the impossible. You can survive on this, this growing friendship, she thinks. She loves your daughter and she quite likes you. That's enough. It'll have to be enough.

One hour later the show's over and they've arrived at Caroline's house, Daisy still chattering excitedly about everything she's seen.

"Thanks again Caroline, it really was good of you. What do we say Daisy?"

"With a bing and a bong and a bing and a bong-"

"OK, I think you can take that as a thank you."

"You're very welcome. See you on Monday. Bye bye Daisy."

"Nooo, Calorine, where are you going? Mummy, no!"

Oh dear, she'd been afraid of this.

"Caroline's going home sweetheart, we've had a lovely time with her but she's going home now."

"Nooo, Calorine stay for tea mummy, why is she going home, it's not fair!"

"Come on, sweetheart, we've had a lovely time haven't we so let's not ruin it, Caroline has to see her own family."

"Not today mummy! Please!"

She looks nervously at Caroline, unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry about this."

"No, no, it's all right. Would you...I mean, would I be imposing if I-"

Daisy starts to cry.

"You could come round for tea, for Daisy's tea, I mean, we could have you home in a few hours? I don't want to take up your entire Saturday."

"If that's all right with you?"

"Of course. OK Daisy?"

"Calorine coming with us?"

"Yes sweetheart, Calor-, I mean, Caroline's coming with us." Caroline's grinning at her, quickening her heartbeat, drawing her back into the fantasy. She starts the car and tries unsuccessfully to think of anything apart from the prospect of Caroline in her home again.

Having put away an impressive amount of pasta and veg, encouraged by her favourite friend, Daisy's finally calmed down from her high and has draped herself over Caroline on the sofa.

"Almost bedtime by the looks of it, come on munchkin." She goes to pick her up but Caroline stops her.

"Just a few more minutes, Kate. You need to enjoy this stage, you know, they grow out of it so fast. A few more years and they don't let you cuddle them like this. Lawrence barely lets me near him now unless he's upset."

She's stroking Daisy's hair, her other arm wrapped around her. Kate reaches out to stroke her daughter's cheek and her fingers brush softly against Caroline's. Their eyes meet and for a few moments they gaze at each other, Kate's heart full of longing. She tears her eyes away with difficulty.

"Right, I should really get her upstairs. Come on Daisy."

Caroline frowns slightly but surrenders her hold on Daisy and they awkwardly transfer her from Caroline's arms to hers, Kate sitting on the sofa beside her and Caroline leaning into her, fuelling the desire to kiss her. Their eyes meet again and she can't decipher her expression – she looks serious, earnest. Beautiful. She longs to kiss her lips. With effort she stands up and walks quickly out of the room without a word.

When she comes downstairs again Caroline's already waiting at the front door.

"I should get going, thank you for a lovely day."

"Oh, no, thank you, thank you for thinking of it. You could stay for dinner if you like, I haven't got much in but-"

"I really should get home, Kate, I've got a pile of work to get through."

On a Saturday evening? Have you really?

"Of course, I understand. See you soon."

"See you soon. Bye."

She closes the door behind her and stands there. Well that was a fast departure. Christ, she didn't see it did she, when they were...she didn't read the look in her eyes? Oh God, that must be it, the first sign of Sapphic desire and she runs for the hills. Well that's just great.

So she's officially back to square one. Two people in love with Dr Elliot and absolutely no way for them both to be happy.